Dams, poachers, farmers and oil companies are among the threats facing iconic natural paradises, from Australia's Great Barrier Reef to the spectacular Iguazú Falls in South America. The ongoing battle to preserve the sites resumed this week in Doha, Qatar, where the World Heritage Committee is asking governments to address the ongoing threats. Here, we showcase some of the sites most at risk. Andy Coghlan

Lowland mountain gorillas like this one are among the exotic species potentially at risk from oil and mineral extraction in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rated by UNESCO as the richest trove of natural beauty and biodiversity in Africa. The park received a reprieve earlier this month when Soco International, a British-based oil exploration company, declared that it would end its activities in the park. The threat remains because the government of the DRC has yet to withdraw permits that would allow other companies to explore and drill in zones covering 85 per cent of the national park. The heritage committee will this week repeat its demand for the permits to be permanently rescinded.